01.24.2008
More like ‘Moment of Disaster’
 |
If you missed “Moment of Truth” Wednesday night, you probably saved your relationship.
Fox’s new game show puts contestants in awkward situations in front of their significant others, friends, bosses and, oh yeah, millions of viewers.
If you missed “Moment of Truth” Wednesday night, you probably saved your relationship.
FOX’s new game show puts contestants in awkward situations in front of their significant others, friends, bosses and, oh yeah, millions of viewers.
The show’s host, Mark L. Wahlberg, asks seemingly embarrassing questions to the obviously anxious contestants, who have been asked the same questions prior to the show while hooked to a lie detector.
If the sweaty-palmed, nervous-laughter-spouting truth-teller can make it through the show admitting to their shortcomings, they can win up to $500,000.
Sounds easy, but the questions aren’t.
A few notable queries from Wednesday’s show:
“While in the locker room, did you ever check out another man’s privates?”
“Have you ever gone through a co-worker’s personal belongings without them knowing?”
Let’s get this out of the way right now — if you have any similarities to any of the following, stop thinking about applying to be a contestant: Pee Wee Herman, Oscar the Grouch (dude lives in a trash can — he’s definitely got something to hide) or anyone in the adult entertainment industry — the show is already family-unfriendly enough.
But if you’re just an everyday Ugly Betty, you’re likely to truth your way through the opening round.
However, the forthcoming intimate questions will likely prove to be deal-breakers:
“Have you delayed having children with your wife because you think she may not be your lifelong partner?”
“Do you have a bank account your girlfriend doesn’t know about?”
To clarify, these questions may be deal-breakers for those sitting at home, not those sitting in the show’s hot seat.
Here’s why:
While watching the show, a viewer is likely to think, “Hmm, for $500,000, could I admit I still pick my nose and that it may have been a bad idea to drink those two very large margaritas in Las Vegas?”
(Note: Such vices are hypothetical and certainly not based on the experiences of this columnist.)
While viewers watches from the comfort of their couch, the thoughts start rolling, and if said viewer is unfortunate enough to be sitting with a significant other, chances are a fight is already brewing.
A question such as “Since your marriage, have you ever used the Internet to flirt with other women?” is just cruisin’ for a bruisin’.
Who hears that question and doesn’t think, “I wonder if the boyfriend has done that ... ”?
Even the best relationship is bound to stumble, and “Moment of Truth” is that bump in the road.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve got all the trust in the world, if you’ve got a TV tuned to FOX at 9 p.m. Wednesdays, you’ve got a problem.
That’s not to say you shouldn’t watch the show.
If you’re gonna get mustard everywhere, you may as well do it on an unsuspecting Wednesday night when your dog is falling asleep, you’ve got a half-eaten pizza on the counter and your shoes are by the door.
(Again, said situation is hypothetical and certainly not based on the experiences of this columnist.)
Chances are, if you do have a strong relationship, “Moment of Truth” will only dent it, not crush it.
But if you’re addicted to gambling, inappropriately touch people at work or don’t want people to know you’re in the Hair Club for Men, watch “Seinfeld” reruns instead.
(Those really aren’t based on this columnist’s vices. Really. I rarely gamble, I respect my co-workers and I have a lot of hair. Well, not a lot. The normal amount. I’m not Sasquatch or anything.)